Many businesses pay for SEO every month in the hopes that it will help their business grow. But after a while, they still can’t tell if it’s really working, or if it’s just wasting money. They might see reports full of charts and numbers, but those reports don’t mean anything if they are not bringing in real customers.
Below, this SEO agency in Hoffman Estates, Illinois is going to explain how you can tell if your SEO is doing anything useful.
Vanity metrics are not reliable.
Some SEO agencies put too much focus on metrics like impressions, backlink counts, or high website traffic. These “vanity metrics” are easy to track and look good on a report, but they don’t always tell you what you really need to know.
Let’s say your website gets thousands of visitors. That sounds great on paper, but if none of those people buy anything, call you, or fill out a contact form, then what’s the point?
The metrics you should truly be paying attention to.
An experienced SEO agency in Hoffman Estates, Illinois will always focus on the metrics that truly help your business, like how many people call you, fill out a form, or make a purchase. They will not just show you where your site ranks for a keyword. They will check if that keyword is something your customers are typing when they are ready to buy or sign up.
Google ranks search results based on how well your content answers a user’s question, not just because it repeats certain words. So, if your content shows up for keywords people are not searching when they are ready to act, that ranking will not help you much.
For that reason, you should look at what visitors do on your website. Are they staying for a while? Are they clicking around? Are they leaving too fast? Google’s tools like Google Analytics and Search Console can show you what pages people visit, how long they stay, and where they leave.
The biggest thing to watch is conversions. Whether it is someone calling, buying, or filling out a form, those are the signs your SEO is doing something real.
How long does it take to see real results?
SEO takes time, and it is good to set expectations early so you don’t feel let down if nothing is happening overnight.
Google’s John Mueller has explained that small updates (like fixing a page title or a meta tag) can sometimes get picked up fast. But bigger changes take longer because search engines need time to crawl your site and process everything.
If your SEO agency updates only a few pages, you might see small improvements in a few weeks. But for bigger results (like climbing up in rankings or getting more leads), it can take a few months.
So, if an SEO agency tells you to give it some time, that is a good sign they know what they are doing. And if your website is new or in a competitive market, a full year might be more realistic.
Questions you should ask your SEO agency.
Don’t be afraid to ask your SEO agency some direct questions. It is your money, and you should know how it is being used.
First, ask how regularly the agency will give you updates. Weekly or monthly?
Next, ask them what they consider a successful campaign. Is it more traffic, more calls, more sales? That will help you understand what they track and why.
Also ask what they will do if progress slows down. A good agency will always have a plan B.
An experienced SEO agency in Hoffman Estates, Illinois won’t avoid your questions. They will welcome these conversations and give you straight answers.
Looking for an SEO agency in Hoffman Estates, Illinois?
Are you looking for a professional SEO agency in Hoffman Estates, Illinois that focuses on real results? If so, look no further than Digital Destination LLC. Our team of SEO experts can review what you have been doing so far, tell you what’s working, and build a strategy that’s truly impactful for your business. Contact us at (312) 933-6806 to schedule a free consultation.